Wheel structure



E. I. DODDS.

WHEEL STRUCTURE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13. r920.

Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

umrro STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ETHAN I. DODDS, OF CENTRAL VALLEY, NEW YORK,,ASSIGNOR TO FLANNERY, BOLT COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

WHEEL STRUCTURE.

To all whom it may. coneemi Be it known that I ETHAN I. Donne, a citizen of the United and'State of New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Wheel Structures; and I do hereby declare t e' fol? lowing to be a full, clear, and exact d scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements 1n wheels and more particularly to a sheet metal drical form; Fi re 2 is an end view of the blank shown in igure l; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a wheel body made from the blank shown in Figure'l; Figures 4," 5 and 6 are detail views showing diflferent spoke formations; Figure 7 isa view of a tapering slit blank; Figure 8, is a view of a conical blank made from the blank shown in Fi ure 7 Figure'9- is an end view of the b ank shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a side ele-,

vation of a wheel bod made from the blank shown in Figure 8; igures .11 and 412 are detail views of portions of a wheel body made fromthe blanks shownin Fi res 7 and 8, but in which the spoke; portlons to' which a brake or sprocket wheel may be secured, are shorter thanis shown in Fi re 10, and Figures 13 and '14 are views i ustrating a modification of the spoke formation.

-1 represents a blank constructed of sheet metal bent into tubular form and split in a manner to provide a plurality of spokeforming strips .or members 2 projecting from a circular strip 3 to form the hub portion (or apart thereof) of a wheel body.

The strips 2 are bent outwardly so as to radiate from the hub strip 3 and then bent backwardly or inwardly and form the spokes 4. The spoke' strips may be so bent tates, and a resident of Central Valley, in the county of Orange Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, '15, 1922, Application filed'Decembei' 1a, 1920. Serial No. 480,27a.

that the two members of each spoke will be equal in length and the free ends of the bent-back portions of the spokes may be bent to provide lateral flanges 5 in line with the hub strip 3 and forming, with the latter,

,the hub portion of. the wheel body. A

wheel body thus constructed is shown inside elevation in Figure 3.

The free member 6 of each spoke may be made shorter than the other member and provided at its free end with a lateral lug or flange. 6 as shown in Figure 5, to be secured to a brake or sprocket wheel, orthe free end portion of each short spoke "member may be so bent that it will be at right angles to the axis of the wheel body as shown at 6", in Figure 6, for the same purpose.

Instead of making the blank for the wheel plained to provide the free-spoke members 9 in Figure 10 to besecured to a brake or drivin wheel. When the wheel body is made romthe blanks shown in Figures 7 and 8, the free spoke members will be greater in .width than the other members of the spokes and will therefore provide broad surfaces to receive a brake or driving wheel.

If desired, the free spoke members may be made comparatively short as'sho'wn at 10, Figures 11 and 12.

If desired the spoke forming strips of a blank may be bent back and forth so as to provide several spoke members 11 and the free spoke members 12 'made shorter than the others, asshown in Figures 13 and 14.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is-:-

1. A sheet metal wheel, body made in a 1 single piece and comprising a hub member and. radial spoke strips projecting therefrom and bent to provide free members projecting toward the axis of the hub member.

, 2. A sheet metal wheel body made in a single piece and comprising a'hub member Y and radial spoke strips projectin therefrom and bent to provide free spo e members projecting toward the axis of the huh I member, saidfree spoke members being shorter than the spoke members-Which are integral with the hub member.

3. A sheet metal wheel body made in a single piece and comprising a hub member and radial spoke strips projecting there= from and bent to provide free spoke meninhers projecting toward the axis of the hub member, said free spoke members being 10 shorter than the spoke members which are a sesses integral with the hub member, and lateral flanges at the free ends of the short free spoke members. a f

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two sub- 10 scribing witnesses.

ETHAN 1E. DODDS.

' Witnesses:

ETHAN IRA Doves, Jr., HENRY VJ. CnoMwnLL. 

